The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rawlins Field Office (RFO) draft North Platte River Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for public comment. As part of the review period, an open house meeting will be held at the Saratoga Library, 503 West Elm St., Saratoga, Wyo. on April 8 from 4-6 p.m.

BLM specialists will be on hand at the meeting to answer questions on the draft North Platte River RAMP and EA which will be detailed in posters, maps, and photos highlighting the proposed alternatives and potential future actions. The key alternatives presented include improvements to campgrounds, boat ramps, parking areas, educational programs, and Special Recreation Permit (SRP) allocations. Considerations for changes to the current SRP moratorium will also be discussed, as well as proposed strategies to monitor resource conditions.

The RFO manages more than 122 miles of the North Platte River from the Colorado border to the Seminoe Reservoir. The river provides crucial winter range for elk and is a magnet for a wide variety of wildlife including bighorn sheep, bobcat, black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, muskrat, coyote, raccoon, beaver, Greater Sage-Grouse, Canadian geese, mallards, great blue heron, kingfisher, pelicans, golden and bald eagles, red-tailed and ferruginous hawks, and prairie falcons. The North Platte River is also classified as a blue-ribbon trout fishery with a section managed for "wild" trout. In addition, the RFO manages numerous public access points for recreation along the river.

Public comments are most helpful if they cite specific actions or impacts, and offer supporting information. Written substantive comments should be received by April 12, and may be emailed to BLM_WY_North_Platte_River_RAMP@blm.gov, (please list “North Platte RAMP Comment” in the subject line), mailed or hand-delivered during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to: BLM Rawlins Field Office, North Platte RAMP Comment, 1300 N. Third St., Rawlins, WY 82301.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

For more information, please contact Chris Jones at 307-328-4206 or Heath Cline at 307-328-4232.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands.